U.S. patent number 8,006,943 [Application Number 12/581,762] was granted by the patent office on 2011-08-30 for relay for toy track set.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mattel Inc.. Invention is credited to Stacy Lynn O'Connor.
United States Patent |
8,006,943 |
O'Connor |
August 30, 2011 |
Relay for toy track set
Abstract
A relay for a toy track set, the relay having a first actuator,
a second actuator and a conduit fluidly coupling the first actuator
to the second actuator. The first actuator having a release
mechanism moveably secured thereto for movement between a first
position and a second position wherein movement of the release
mechanism from the first position towards the second position
causes the first actuator to force a fluid through the conduit,
wherein the fluid forced through the conduit by the first actuator
causes the second actuator to actuate a second release
mechanism.
Inventors: |
O'Connor; Stacy Lynn (Long
Beach, CA) |
Assignee: |
Mattel Inc. (El Segundo,
CA)
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Family
ID: |
42107320 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/581,762 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100096509 A1 |
Apr 22, 2010 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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61106553 |
Oct 17, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
246/415A; 105/56;
105/53; 105/55; 105/54; 446/176; 446/180 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
18/026 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
19/32 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;246/415A ;446/176,180
;105/53-56,60,63,69 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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9303808 |
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Mar 1993 |
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WO |
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9949948 |
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Oct 1999 |
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WO |
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2007025353 |
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Mar 2007 |
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WO |
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Other References
International Search Report for PCT/US2009/061192 dated May 10,
2010. cited by other .
Written Opinion of The International Searching Authority for
PCT/US2009/061192 dated May 10, 2010. cited by other .
International Search Report for PCT/US2008/061820 dated Oct. 17,
2008. cited by other .
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority for
PCT/US2008/061820 dated Oct. 17, 2008. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Morano; S. Joseph
Assistant Examiner: Smith; Jason C
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cantor Colburn LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/106,553 filed Oct. 17, 2008 the contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A relay for a toy track set, the relay comprising: a first
actuator; a second actuator; a conduit fluidly coupling the first
actuator to the second actuator; and a release mechanism moveably
secured to the first actuator for movement between a first position
and a second position wherein movement of the release mechanism
from the first position towards the second position causes the
first actuator to force a fluid through the conduit, wherein the
fluid forced through the conduit by the first actuator causes the
second actuator to actuate a second release mechanism, wherein the
first actuator is coupled to a first vehicle track segment and the
second actuator is coupled to a second vehicle track segment.
2. The relay as in claim 1, wherein the first vehicle track segment
is pivotally mounted to the first actuator and the second vehicle
track segment is pivotally mounted to the second actuator.
3. The relay as in claim 1, wherein the conduit is a flexible tube
and the conduit is the only item coupling the first actuator to the
second actuator.
4. The relay as in claim 1, wherein the second actuator has a
moveable member the moves from a first position to a second
position when the fluid received from the conduit causes a bellows
to be inflated by the fluid.
5. A relay for a toy track set, the relay comprising: a first
actuator; a second actuator; a conduit fluidly coupling the first
actuator to the second actuator; and a release mechanism moveably
secured to the first actuator for movement between a first position
and a second position wherein movement of the release mechanism
from the first position towards the second position causes the
first actuator to force a fluid through the conduit, wherein the
fluid forced through the conduit b the first actuator causes the
second actuator to actuate a second release mechanism, wherein the
first actuator further comprises a piston slidably received within
a cylinder, the piston being capable of movement between a first
position and a second position wherein movement of the piston from
the first position to the second position causes fluid to be forced
from the cylinder into the conduit and then into the second release
mechanism.
6. The relay as in claim 5, wherein the piston is secured to a rod
and movement of the rod causes movement of the piston and movement
of the piston towards the first position causes a biasing member to
be compressed and apply a biasing force to the piston and the
release mechanism being configured to retain the piston in the
first position and movement of the release mechanism from the first
position to the second position releases the biasing force and the
piston is moved towards the second position.
7. The relay as in claim 6, wherein the second release mechanism
further comprises a bellows that is inflated when the piston moves
from the first position to the second position.
8. The relay as in claim 7, wherein the conduit is a flexible tube
and the conduit is the only item coupling the first actuator to the
second actuator.
9. A relay for a toy track set, the relay comprising: a first
actuator; a second actuator; a conduit fluidly coupling the first
actuator to the second actuator; and a release mechanism moveably
secured to the first actuator for movement between a first position
and a second position wherein movement of the release mechanism
from the first position towards the second position causes the
first actuator to force a fluid through the conduit, wherein the
fluid forced through the conduit by the first actuator causes the
second actuator to actuate a second release mechanism, wherein the
second actuator has an actuatable member the moves from a first
position to a second position when the fluid is received from the
conduit and the second actuator is configured to be releasably
secured to a track segment.
10. A relay for a toy track set, the relay comprising: a first
actuator; a second actuator; a conduit fluidly coupling the first
actuator to the second actuator; and a release mechanism moveably
secured to the first actuator for movement between a first position
and a second position wherein movement of the release mechanism
from the first position towards the second position causes the
first actuator to force a fluid through the conduit, wherein the
fluid forced through the conduit by the first actuator causes the
second actuator to actuate a second release mechanism, wherein the
second actuator has a moveable member the moves from a first
position to a second position when the fluid received from the
conduit causes a bellows to be inflated by the fluid and wherein
the moveable member has an angled surface for engaging a conically
shaped trigger pivotally secured to the second actuator, wherein
the fluid received from the first actuator will cause the movable
member to move from an un-actuated position to an actuated position
wherein a contact surface of the movable member engages a conically
shaped surface of the conically shaped trigger such that conically
shaped trigger moves upwardly and releases another spring biased
actuator.
11. The relay as in claim 10, wherein the another spring biased
actuator launches a vehicle along a vehicle track segment secured
to the second actuator and the movable member is biased into the
un-actuated position by a spring disposed within the second
actuator.
12. The relay as in claim 10, wherein the conically shaped trigger
further comprises a manual release for moving the trigger from the
first position to the second position.
13. An interchangeable toy track set, comprising: a plurality of
interchangeable relay segments each of which may be coupled to each
other to create a plurality of variations for the toy track set,
each of plurality of interchangeable relay segments comprising: a
first actuator; a second actuator; a conduit fluidly coupling the
first actuator to the second actuator; and a release mechanism
moveably secured to the first actuator for movement between a first
position and a second position wherein movement of the release
mechanism from the first position towards the second position
causes the first actuator to force a fluid through the conduit,
wherein the fluid forced through the conduit by the first actuator
causes the second actuator to actuate a second release mechanism,
wherein the first actuator is coupled to a first vehicle track
segment and the second actuator is coupled to a second vehicle
track segment.
14. The interchangeable toy track set as in claim 13, wherein the
first vehicle track segment is pivotally mounted to the first
actuator and the second vehicle track segment is pivotally mounted
to the second actuator.
15. The interchangeable toy track set as in claim 13, wherein the
first actuator further comprises a piston slidably received within
a cylinder, the piston being capable of movement between a first
position and a second position wherein movement of the piston from
the first position to the second position causes fluid to be forced
from the cylinder into the conduit and then into the second release
mechanism.
16. The interchangeable toy track set as in claim 15, wherein the
piston is secured to a rod and movement of the rod causes movement
of the piston and movement of the piston towards the first position
causes a biasing member to be compressed and apply a biasing force
to the piston and the release mechanism being configured to retain
the piston in the first position and movement of the release
mechanism from the first position to the second position releases
the biasing force and the piston is moved towards the second
position.
17. The interchangeable toy track set as in claim 16, wherein the
second release mechanism further comprises a bellows that is
inflated when the piston moves from the first position to the
second position.
Description
BACKGROUND
Various embodiments of the present invention are related to toys in
particular, a relay for actuating mechanisms of the toy.
Toy vehicle track sets have been popular for many years and
generally include one or more track sections arranged to form a
path around which one or more toy vehicles can travel. Toy vehicles
which may be used on such track sets may be either self-powered
vehicles or may receive power from an external source. In order to
increase play value of the track sets, various track amusement
features have been added to the track sets. For example, track
features, such as stunt devices or elements, including loops,
jumps, collision intersections, etc., have been included in such
track sets to increase the play value of the track sets.
However, with many track sets, the vehicles run on a closed loop
track moving through the same track features lap after lap.
Although such track sets may have one or more stunt devices, a
vehicle in the track set may perform the same stunt over and over
as it travels along the track. Thus, even in track sets with more
than one stunt device, the motion of the vehicle generally remains
consistent for each vehicle as it travels along a specific section
of the track. This repetitive nature of vehicle travel may result
in loss of interest in the track set over a short period of
time.
Some track sets have incorporated switching mechanisms to enable a
user to direct a vehicle to a select travel path. However,
generally such systems require manual manipulation of the track
and/or manual actuation of a switch to reroute one or more vehicles
traveling on the track. Play possibilities may be limited as travel
along the select paths may again become repetitive over a short
period of time.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide toy track set with
interchangeable elements and/or relays to provide numerous
configurations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, a relay for a toy track set is provided, the
relay having a first actuator, a second actuator and a conduit
fluidly coupling the first actuator to the second actuator. The
first actuator has a release mechanism moveably secured thereto for
movement between a first position and a second position wherein
movement of the release mechanism from the first position towards
the second position causes the first actuator to force a fluid
through the conduit, wherein the fluid forced through the conduit
by the first actuator causes the second actuator to actuate a
second release mechanism.
In another embodiment a track set having a plurality of relays each
with a first actuator and a second interchangeable actuator is
provided. Here, an interchangeable toy track has a plurality of
interchangeable relay segments each of which may be coupled to each
other to create a plurality of variations for the toy track set and
each of plurality of interchangeable relay segments having a first
actuator; a second interchangeable actuator; a conduit fluidly
coupling the first actuator to the second actuator; and a release
mechanism moveably secured to the first actuator for movement
between a first position and a second position wherein movement of
the release mechanism from the first position towards the second
position causes the first actuator to force a fluid through the
conduit, wherein the fluid forced through the conduit by the first
actuator causes the second actuator to actuate a second release
mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a relay in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first actuator of the relay of
the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 in a first position;
FIG. 3 is another perspective view of a relay;
FIG. 4 is a side view of a second actuator of the relay illustrated
in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5 and 5A illustrate movement of the second actuator;
FIGS. 6-6D are disassembled views of the first actuator;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of components of the first
actuator;
FIG. 8 is a disassembled view of the second actuator; and
FIG. 9 is perspective view of an alternative exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference is made to the following U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/111,168 filed Apr. 28, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/926,583 filed Apr. 27,
2007 and 60/966,029 filed Aug. 24, 2007, the contents each of which
are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention a
relay 10 for a customizable track set is provided. In one
embodiment, the relay of the track set includes an interchangeable
actuator, the interchangeable actuator being configured to be
coupled to other track segments in order to create a customized
expandable track set. In one embodiment and as illustrated in FIG.
1, the relay comprises a first actuator 12 coupled to a second
actuator 14 by a conduit 16. Conduit 16 provides a means for
fluidly coupling the first actuator to second actuator. Here the
second actuator is the interchangeable actuator configured to be
secured to any one of a plurality of track segments.
The first actuator has a release mechanism 18 configured for
movement between a first position and a second position wherein the
first position corresponds to a cocked position of a piston 20
slidingly received within a cylinder or chamber 22 of the first
actuator that is in fluid communication with one end of the conduit
via an exhaust manifold of the cylinder. In one embodiment of the
present invention the piston 20 has at least one O-ring or sealing
member 21 that allows the piston to slide within the cylinder while
also preventing or limiting fluid communication therethrough (e.g.,
maintaining or preventing fluids or gases on one side of the piston
from passing around the piston to another side of the piston).
The piston is secured to a rod or member 24 that is slidably
mounted to the first actuator and is capable of movement between a
cocked position and a released position (illustrated by the dashed
lines in FIG. 1 see also FIGS. 6 and 7). Rod or member 24 has a
knob portion 26 capable of being grasped by a user's hand in order
to slide the rod and accordingly the piston from the released
position to the cocked position. As the rod is slid or moved from
the released position to the cocked position a spring or biasing
member 28 is compressed such that a biasing force in the direction
of the arrow 30 is provided such that release of the rod from the
cocked position by movement of the release mechanism allows the
biasing force of the spring to urge or move the piston in the
direction of arrow 30 such that a force of compressed air is
supplied to conduit 16 fluidly coupled to chamber 22. This force of
compressed air is used to actuate an actuator 32 of the second
actuator.
As illustrated, conduit 16 allows the first actuator to be remotely
positioned with respect to the second actuator wherein the only
item coupling the two together is conduit 16 furthermore, and in
one embodiment conduit 16 is a flexible tube that allows various
placements of the first actuator with respect to the second
actuator.
First actuator 12 further comprises an actuating mechanism 34 for
actuating or moving the release mechanism 18 from the first
position towards the second position. In one non-limiting
embodiment actuating mechanism 34 comprises a conically shaped
trigger 36 pivotally secured to the first actuator for movement
between an un-actuated and actuated or release position when the
conically shaped trigger is pivoted from the un-actuated position
to the actuated position to move the release mechanism from the
first position to the second position causing compressed air to be
provided to a second actuator. In one non-limiting exemplary
embodiment, movement of the conically shaped trigger 36 from the
un-actuated position to the actuated position causes a vehicle 38
to be launched from a ramp 40 by a spring biased actuator or
launcher 42 wherein the car flies through the air and contacts a
surface of the release mechanism causing the same to be pivoted
from the first position towards the second position such that the
force of spring 28 is released and compressed air is provided to
the second actuator in order to actuate the actuator of the second
actuator. Non-limiting examples of launchers for launching toy
vehicles are well known to those skilled in the art. For example,
exemplary launchers for toy vehicles are described in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 4,108,437 entitled "Toy Vehicle Starting and Launching Set",
issued on Aug. 22, 1978 and 6,435,929 and U.S. Patent Publication
No. 2007/0293122 entitled "Track Set", filed on May 4, 2007, the
contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference
thereto.
Operation of the conically shaped trigger 36 is similar to that of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/111,168 filed Apr. 28, 2008 the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. As
illustrated, a first track segment 44 is secured to the first
actuator 12 such that a toy vehicle traveling along the first track
segment will make contact with a conical surface 46 of the
conically shaped trigger 36. In one embodiment and in order to
provide various track set ups, the first track segment can be
pivotally secured to the first actuator proximate to the conically
shaped trigger 36 of the first actuator. Also shown is a manual
actuating lever 48 and is coupled to the conically shaped trigger
36 and is capable of manually releasing the same such that vehicle
38 can be launched at release mechanism 18. Although a conically
shaped trigger 36 is illustrated on first actuator 12 it is
understood that any other type of trigger can be employed to cause
the required movement of release mechanism 18 in order to provide a
charge of compressed air to conduit 16. Furthermore, it is also
understood that any object may be launched at release mechanism 18
by a trigger 36 and exemplary embodiments are not limited to
launching a toy vehicle at release mechanism 18.
In order to cock or load the first actuator, a user pulls on the
rod until a release latch 37 of the release mechanism engages or
holds the rod in place. In one embodiment, the release latch 37 is
biased into a locking position by a spring 39 wherein movement of
the release mechanism causes the release latch to no longer engage
the rod and allow the piston to travel in the chamber of the
cylinder. This pulling of the rod fills the cylinder with air by
drawing it in from an exhaust opening 41 and spring 28 is
compressed. Alternatively, air may be drawn in from a one-way check
valve. Upon stunt activation the car or object is launched at the
release mechanism causing the release latch to release spring and
push a volume of air into a bellows 71 of the second actuator to
fill it up. As illustrated the bellows is fluidly coupled to the
chamber 22 via flexible conduit 16 thus as a fluid is compressed in
chamber 22 via piston 20 the compressed fluid is released into the
bellows to cause it to expand and have a desired movement at the
actuator 32. As the bellows is filled it expands and pushes the
lever of the second actuator outward and the conical trigger is
pushed upward to release another stunt or car associated with the
second actuator. Although a bellows is illustrated any other type
of chamber is contemplated wherein the same is capable of expanding
when it receives the air forced out of chamber 22 by piston 20.
Furthermore any other type of gas operated or pneumatically
operated device may be employed to provide the necessary movement
to movable member 50. Note bellows 71 is shown in an unexpanded or
unfilled state in FIG. 8. It is also understood that any type of
fluid may be used in the system comprising the bellows, the chamber
and the conduit. Also, the system may be a closed system with
additional valves, as required, for limiting and allowing fluid
flow.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-5 interaction or operation of the first
actuator and the second actuator will now be now described. As
shown, conduit 16 is coupled to chamber 22 via an exhaust manifold
41 such that upon actuation of release mechanism 18 when rod 24 is
in the cocked position, piston 20 will be urged in the direction of
the arrow 30 and cause a fluid or charge of compressed air to be
provided to actuator 32.
Actuator 32 has a movable member 50 with an angled surface for
engaging a conically shaped trigger or release mechanism 52
pivotally secured to the second actuator 14. Actuator 32 is
configured such that receipt of a charge of compressed gas from
chamber 22 of the first actuator 12 will cause movable member 50 to
move from an un-actuated position to an actuated position wherein a
contact surface 54 of the movable member engages a conically shaped
surface 56 of the conically shaped trigger 52 such that conically
shaped trigger 52 moves upwardly and releases another spring biased
actuator 58 that launches an object such as a vehicle 60 along a
track segment 62 secured to the second actuator. In one embodiment
the movable member 50 is biased into the un-actuated position by a
spring 64 disposed within actuator 32 and disposed between a
surface 68 of the actuator and a surface 70 of a moveable member
secured to the bellows 71 such that the charge of compressed fluid,
gas or air inflates the bellows in order to overcome the spring or
biasing member 64 and urge the movable member 50 in the direction
of arrow 72 thus causing the conical trigger 52 to move upward and
launch object 60 down track segment 62. Although object 60 is
illustrated as a toy vehicle traveling along a track segment
exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not specifically
limited to toy vehicles as it is contemplated that other objects
may be launched or other actuators may be triggered by movement of
the movable member 50 of actuator 32. Although actuator 32 is shown
with a bellows for actuating the moveable member other means for
actuating the moveable member are contemplated for example, the
compressed air can be applied to a release mechanism for releasing
a spring biased force.
In one embodiment and in order to secure actuator 32 to track
segment 74 the actuator is configured to have a dimension capable
of allowing the same to be slidably received within track segment
74 such that actuator 32 can be connected to any one of a plurality
of track segments secured to any one of a plurality of relays
illustrated herein and as well as those illustrated in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/111,168 the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference thereto such that the compressed
gas of the first actuator can be applied to a second actuator,
which can be secured to any one of a plurality of relay segments
for example an actuator 32 illustrated in FIG. 6. In order to
facilitate the securement of actuator 32 to a track segment an
engagement feature or features 78 is/are provided. Engagement
features 78 are configured to have a tongue portion 80 configured
to be slidably received within a slotted opening 82 disposed on
track segment 74 such that actuator 32 can be installed on any one
of a plurality of track segments having a slotted portion
configured to engage a tongue portion of another track segment for
example, tongue portion 84 illustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the
output of the first actuator can be applied to the second actuator
32 that can be installed in any one of a plurality of relay
segments creating a second actuator.
Referring now to FIG. 9 an alternative relay 110 is illustrated.
Here relay has a first actuator 112 similar to actuator 12 of FIGS.
1-8. First actuator 112 also has a piston chamber fluidly coupled
to a flexible conduit 114 such movement of the release mechanism
from a first position to a second position when the rod is cocked
(e.g., spring 28 is compressed and the release latch is engaging
the rod) causes the rod and spring to be released such that
compressed gas is released into the bellows of second actuator 114
and moveable member 150 pivots on a frame portion 151 of second
actuator such that a car or object 160 is launched down a track 153
that is secured to the second actuator. As illustrated, the second
actuator is secured to a tower or any other equivalent object 157
such that second actuator of the relay is elevated from the first
actuator such that the object or vehicle launched by the first
actuator does not need to physically contact the trigger of the
second actuator. In this embodiment, once launched the vehicle will
travel down the track via gravity. As shown, the second actuator is
secured to the tower via a clamp or any other easily operated
removable securement means to allow for numerous track
configurations.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention
each actuator may include one or more stunt elements and may be
selectively positioned at the beginning, middle, or end of the
track set. Each actuator may be configured to enable a toy vehicle
to traverse an obstacle and/or perform a stunt and launch the toy
vehicle down a track towards another relay segment, which then may
initiate a second vehicle to be released and traverse still another
obstacle and/or perform still another stunt.
Non-limiting examples of track set relay segments are found in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/111,168 the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference thereto. As discussed, each relay
segment may be selectively positioned in the beginning, middle or
end of the track. A user may customize the track by positioning the
relay sections in desired portions of the track. In one embodiment,
a plurality of relay segments may be sequentially coupled together
with a plurality of track segments to generate a series of relay
events. The series of events, which may include various stunt
elements, can be rearranged in a plurality of sequences and/or
parallel paths to provide numerous play patterns. In this way, a
user can experience diverse track play and excitement time and time
again.
In one example, the relay segments may include triggers, such as
conical shaped triggers or angled trigger shapes that are not
necessarily conical. As an example, conically shaped trigger may
have a cone angle of approximately 45 degrees, which is actuated
vertically via contact with a horizontally moving incoming vehicle.
It should be appreciated that the cone angle may be of any suitable
angle such that an incoming vehicle actuates the trigger. Thus, as
a non-limiting example the cone angle may be anywhere from 5-90
degrees.
Further, the illustrated embodiments show a conical trigger,
alternatively, the trigger may be planar shaped and angled (e.g.,
approximately 45 degrees) relative to an incoming track.
Although the figures illustrate a single relay with a first
actuator and a second interchangeable actuator is contemplated that
track sets having a plurality of relays each with a first actuator
and a second interchangeable actuator are considered to be within
the scope of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For
example, an interchangeable toy track set can be provided wherein a
plurality of interchangeable relay segments are provided each of
which may be coupled to each other to create a plurality of
variations for the toy track set and each of plurality of
interchangeable relay segments having a first actuator; a second
interchangeable actuator; a conduit fluidly coupling the first
actuator to the second actuator; and a release mechanism moveably
secured to the first actuator for movement between a first position
and a second position wherein movement of the release mechanism
from the first position towards the second position causes the
first actuator to force a fluid through the conduit, wherein the
fluid forced through the conduit by the first actuator causes the
second actuator to actuate a second release mechanism.
While the present invention has been described in terms of specific
embodiments, it should be appreciated that the spirit and scope of
the invention is not limited to those embodiments. The features,
functions, elements and/or properties, and/or combination and
combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties of
the present invention may be claimed in this or a related
application. All subject matter which comes within the meaning and
range of equivalency of the claims is to be embraced within the
scope of such claims.
* * * * *